Police 999 call centres could close in bid to save £4million

Police 999 call centres are set to close under new plans to save £4million by 2017.

At a meeting last week the otline plans were agreed by the chief constables and police and crime commissioners for Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

They would mean that by March 2017 all police 999 calls were dealt with by just two call centres in Hinchingbrooke and Welwyn Garden City.

The plans, which were first touted in January, are part of an ongoing ‘strategic alliance’ for all three forces to work together more closely as they face a £56.6million funding shortfall between now and 2019/20.

David Lloyd, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, said: “This initiative will help modernise our response to the public of Hertfordshire from our existing control room in Welwyn Garden City, providing a better service through improved technology and earlier resolution to matters that people need to contact us about.

“The development of on-line access to key services is the realisation of a key aim of my Police and Crime plan, whilst the savings produced by this collaboration will help to continue the protection of Neighbourhood Policing throughout Hertfordshire.”

Staff will be formally consulted on the proposals once a more detailed study into the plans is completed.